On August 15, 2025, the International Committee of Indigenous Peoples of Russia (ICIPR) released an open letter to the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), expressing deep concern over actions that undermine the principles of inclusion and legitimacy in Indigenous participation. The letter calls for the reinstatement of accreditation for the Centre for Support of Indigenous Peoples of the North (CSIPN) and condemns state-backed attempts to replace independent Indigenous voices with government-controlled representatives in international forums.
Open Statement of Concern
Dear Astrid Schomaker,
We, the International Committee of Indigenous Peoples of Russia (ICIPR), write to express our urgent concern regarding recent developments in the Convention’s processes, which we believe severely undermine the principles of inclusion, legitimacy, and Indigenous Rights as enshrined in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).
Firstly, it is deeply troubling that the Centre for Support of Indigenous Peoples of the North (CSIPN) has lost its accreditation with the CBD, reportedly on the pretext that it is not a registered legal entity. This reasoning is inconsistent with the Convention’s own standards, which do not require Indigenous Peoples’ organizations to hold legal entity status, especially given that such registration can be actively obstructed by repressive governments.
CSIPN continues to hold recognition and accreditation in other UN mechanisms, including the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP), UNEA, WIPO and ECOSOC. It has played a critical and respected role in advocating for Indigenous political, environmental and biodiversity rights for over two decades. Stripping its accreditation sends a chilling signal that states may effectively silence independent Indigenous voices through bureaucratic pretexts. Such exclusion is not only unjust—it directly violates the spirit and obligations of the CBD and its protocols, which aim to ensure full and effective participation of Indigenous Peoples.
We must also raise serious concerns regarding the selection of Mr. Alexey Tsykarev as a regional representative on the Global Steering Committee of the GBF-CALI Process. Mr. Tsykarev is not Indigenous. He is closely affiliated with state structures in Russia and serves as a key figure behind the School of Indigenous Diplomacy—a state-backed initiative created to manufacture loyalty and diplomatic compliance under the guise of Indigenous representation.
Notably, Mr. Tsykarev has been declared persona non grata in several Baltic and Nordic countries due to his assessed threat to national security—underscoring the extent to which his activities align with Russian soft power and disinformation strategies. His continued involvement in global Indigenous diplomacy not only undermines the credibility of Indigenous representation, but also poses a broader threat to the safety and legitimacy of international Indigenous platforms.
We refer CBD to two key investigations:
- “RAIPON: From Nation-Based Change Agent to a Weapon of State-
Controlled Propaganda” (ICIPR, 2024)
https://indigenous-russia.com/ archives/38572
- “They work for the benefit of those at the top.” How the Association of
Indigenous Peoples became an enrichment and lobbying tool” (Arctida, 2024)https://arctida.io/en/investigations/oni-rabotayut-na-blago-verhushki
This is emblematic of a growing and alarming trend: state capture of Indigenous representation, where co-opted or manufactured actors are positioned in global Indigenous spaces to advance state interests, propaganda and suppress authentic voices. The integrity of Indigenous participation within the CBD is essential. It must not be compromised by political agendas or procedural exclusion.
We urge the CBD to uphold its commitment to democratic Indigenous participation and reject attempts by states to monopolize Indigenous participation through government-backed influence and diplomacy and instrumentalize Indigenous identity as a vehicle for political control.
We trust that the Secretariat will give this matter the attention it deserves and act in full accordance with the Convention’s obligations regarding the rights of Indigenous Peoples and their full and effective participation.
We firmly believe that the Centre for Support of Indigenous Peoples of the North (CSIPN) should retain its vital role and accreditation status, continuing to serve as the focal point of the Russian Indigenous Caucus and contributing meaningfully to the effective implementation of the Convention.